On my First Son

BY BEN JONSON

Farewell, thou child of my right hand, and joy; My sin was too much hope of thee, lov'd boy. Seven years tho' wert lent to me, and I thee pay, Exacted by thy fate, on the just day. O, could I lose all father now! For why Will man lament the state he should envy? To have so soon 'scap'd world's and flesh's rage, And if no other misery, yet age? Rest in soft peace, and, ask'd, say, "Here doth lie Ben Jonson his best piece of poetry." For whose sake henceforth all his vows be such, As what he loves may never like too much.

AP Question 3/3 What view of the world does the poem present? What do you think of the poet view?

This poem presents a very bleak outlook on the world, mainly due to the death of Jonsons most beloved son. The first half of the poem presents the Jonsons belief that it was sinful for him to have loved his son so much. He had too many hopes and ambitions for his son, which, during Ben Jonsons era, was largely seen as a form of hubris. The second half of the poem portrays the Jonsons grief that is associated with his sons death. He says at the end that he will be careful not to let himself again care for another human being as much as he allowed himself to care for his son. The way Jonson presents his sons death makes it seem that his grief for his son has made him see the world as very dreary and pessimistic. I think Ben Jonsons justification for not wanting to love another as closely again because of the fear of experiencing the same grief is understandable. However, I dont believe that this is a commitment Jonson would have been able to keep throughout his life. Time has the ability to heal or soothe all wounds, especially when new people are constantly coming into your life and begin to care for them.

AP Question 4/11 Discuss the poets changing reaction to the subject developed in the poem.

Jonson begins his poem with a farewell to his son and treating him as if he were like a financial transaction, a loan that he eventually had to repay. However, the 5th line of the poem reveals Jonsons true grief for the lost of his son. Out of grief, he wishes for a moment that he were not the childs father so that his pain and guilt would disappear. He also expresses his envy for his son, because he will not have to experience the hardships of the world and the pains and responsibilities of growing older. Jonsons son was born, lived, and died in innocence and blissful unawareness. Finally the last two lines of the poem state that, because his love for his son has led to so much pain and suffering, he will not let himself get too close to another human being again. Jonsons changing reaction throughout the poem becomes increasingly personal. Starting with a unsympathetic comparison of his son to a financial loan, then to an outcry of grief and envy, and ending with a heartbreaking commitment to emotional isolation from others.

AP Question 7/11 Discuss the way of life revealed in the poem. Refer to such poetic elements as tone, imagery, symbol, and verse form.

The poem presents life as being full of pain, grief, and hardships. Ben Jonson presents the view of life in two separate ways. The first way is through his son as a symbol of innocence. Because his son died at a young age of 7, he had not yet had a chance to experience the pains of life that come with growing older and more experienced. Because of this, Jonsons son had died innocent and uncorrupted by the world and its cruelties. Jonson is even envious of his son for escaping lifes sting that most men are burdened with. The second way Jonson presents life as being full of pain and hardships is through his own grief. In line 5 of the poem, Jonson wishes for a moment that he were not the father of this child. He wishes this out of grief because the pain and loss of his first son is too much for him to emotionally bear. In line 10, he even refers to his son as his greatest creative work. Many people have experienced and dealt with the loss of a parent, but I would imagine that the grief over the loss of a child is heavily intensified because the death of a child is the loss of a persons greatest creation.

AP Question 1/11 Discuss how poetic elements such as language, structure, imagery, and point of view convey meaning in the poem.

The most important poetic element that intensifies the feelings of loss and grief in this poem is the poems point of view. The speaker of the poem is the poet, Ben Jonson, himself. The poem was written not long after the death of his first son, Benjamin. Being presented through the lens of a emotional and grief stricken father provides this epigram with a feeling of intense emotionally loss and suffering that an omniscient narrator or speaker simply cannot provide. The language of the poem is also essential in presenting Jonsons emotional connection to his deceased son. In line 9, Jonson refers to his son as his best piece of poetry. By calling him a piece of poetry, he is really referring to his son as greatest creation. Being father to a child is similar to being the author of a poem because both are considered creators. I could only imagine that to see your own creation destroyed or lost must be devastating and emotionally agonizing to its creator.

Critical Analysis by Joshua Scodel In this criticism, Joshua Scodel provides historical context to the creation of On My First Son. During the London plague of 1603, Ben Jonson was residing in Huntingdonshire with his two mentors away from his family for over a year. After having premonitions of his sons death, he had received a letter from his wife telling him that his first son had died from the plague. Scodel goes on to explain that Jonson was neglecting his patriarchal obligations by not looking over his own household during a time of plague. Jonson had never attended the burial of his own son because the bodies of the victims of plague were often thrown into pest-pits to prevent the spread of disease. Scodel believes that On My First Son provides a burial ritual in itself for Jonsons son, immortalizing his sons name, as would a tombstone. The historical context that Scodel provides has greatly increased my understanding of the poem itself. It allowed me to perceive a sense of guilt from poem because of Jonsons failure to protect his family during a time of plague. I also believe that the poem is an alternate form of burial and honoring his son. Scodel even states poetry can provide a proper burial for the dead without a body or a priest.